Premier League referees call for change in offside technology
Premier League match officials are urging clubs to replace the current provider of the semi-automated offside technology, expressing a significant loss of confidence in the system, reports BritPanorama.
Referees have reportedly expressed frustration over the system’s reliability, particularly its failure to deliver timely decisions during matches. This has led to officials feeling they are unfairly subjected to public criticism for extended delays in the decision-making process.
The company Genius Sports, which secured the Premier League contract last season, operates the current semi-automated offside system. While officials had reservations about its effectiveness for some time, a critical incident during a recent Carabao Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Newcastle United reportedly pushed their patience to its limit.
During the match on January 14, Antoine Semenyo believed he had scored his second goal, but a lengthy review was required to determine whether Erling Haaland was offside. This assessment went on for five-and-a-half minutes, ultimately revealing the system’s incapability to adapt to the nuances of the play, particularly regarding goalkeeper positioning.
In this instance, the analysis faltered because Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope had advanced beyond his nearest defender, complicating the offside line calculations. The failure of the Genius technology in decisive situations has highlighted its limitations, especially when multiple players are involved.
Despite VAR being a standard component of every Premier League match, it is only utilized in the later stages of cup competitions. Following the malfunction, VAR official Stuart Attwell reportedly had to revert to Hawk-Eye technology for manual line drawing, exacerbating frustrations among the officiating team.
This situation was discussed at a recent VAR training session involving elite referees, as officials seek ways to improve the technology employed during matches. The Premier League’s contract with Genius Sports was negotiated on behalf of PGMOL, responsible for managing professional match officials.
The implementation of the semi-automated offside technology was introduced towards the end of the last season. Its complexity is heightened by the dual operation of Genius Sports and Hawk-Eye technologies at Stockley Park, confusing the technological landscape further.
As the season unfolds, the league faces a critical juncture, determining how best to reconcile the demands of modern officiating with the need for accurate and efficient decision-making. The interplay between technology and human judgement remains a particularly compelling aspect of the beautiful game.
